Now I know facebook is used for connecting and keeping up-to-date with friends far away as well us keeping your friends up-to-date, but I think there's an epidemic of complaining and self-pity occurring on facebook status'. Before you set your status next time, check to see if it's a celebration, complaint, or pity-me status. In the midst of our lives, we can find reason to celebrate. Here is a short version of the sermon from this Sunday entitled, "Why Celebrate?"
Why Celebrate?
Why should we celebrate nowadays? Our National Deficit continues to grow, the housing market continues to drop, I think santa clause is even poor this year, and you're most likely not getting an awesome Christmas present. The sun's not going to be out much longer, it gets dark earlier, it's cold, it probably won't snow this Christmas, did I mention that I think even santa clause might be poor this year? The song title "bleak midwinter" never rang truer and it's hard to find reasons to celebrate this Christmas season. However, in the midst of the grimness in the material scene, there is reason to celebrate.
We can start to take some of our cues from a prophet named Isaiah. Approximately 700 years prior to Christ's birth, the prophet Isaiah began proclaiming the message of God's judgment and His redemption. During the ministry of Isaiah, there was a great moral and spiritual decline. Because of the idolatry in the land, God sent the Assyrians to destroy Israel and expand their own territory. In their oppressed state, Isaiah urged the Israelites to find their allegiance in God; instead, the Israelites took sides with who they thought may be most powerful - the Egyptians or the Syrians. I'm not sure if this all was happening in the "bleak midwinter" but I know for sure that in the midst of the grimness in the material scene, Isaiah found reason to celebrate by writing the following hymn in Isaiah 9:4-7. I'll start from verse 3:
3 You have multiplied the nation
And increased its joy;[a]
They rejoice before You
According to the joy of harvest,
As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden
And the staff of his shoulder,
The rod of his oppressor,
As in the day of Midian.
5 For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle,
And garments rolled in blood,
Will be used for burning and fuel of fire.
6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
1) He has made the Impossible Possible (2 parts)
a) Gideon fought the Midianites (vs. 4, "as in the day of Midian"
i) God dwindled his army down to 300 men fighting several hundred thousand men. (More than the grains of sand)
ii) Rejoice when God makes the impossible possible
b) Isaiah Remembered this feat
i) The fight of Gideon and the Midianites occurred 500 years prior to Isaiah writing this hymn
ii) When God does the impossible in your life, remember it and continue to rejoice. Rejoice over impossibilities being overcome even prior to your lifetime
2) He Has given hope for a day of peace
a) Vs. 5 shows imagery of the end of war
i) The boots or sandals used in battle would be burned
ii) The garments rolled in blood is not entirely clear but there are verses in scripture that speak of rivers as an analogy of the amount of people that were murdered in battle
iii) Isaiah writes this because of the Assyrian oppression over the Israelites.
iv) Regardless of what the garments being rolled in blood actually means, the idea is clear: Isaiah's hymn speaks of a day where war and oppression ceases completely.
b) We should rejoice because physical war and oppression will one day cease
i) Unless you have a family member in war, this may mean nothing to you
ii) Unless you're being persecuted for your faith, this may mean nothing to you
iii) If this means nothing because you're not oppressed and have no direct relationship with someone in war, we should rejoice that one day the oppression/war will cease and the people who are at war and who are oppressed will experience peace.
3) He has sent His Son
a) Isaiah's hymn now becomes prophetic - let's take it verse by verse now - This section is the FOCAL POINT of the hymn.
i) Vs. 6-7 most likely were originally directed toward a prince becoming king. However, Isaiah's hymn foretells the plan of God's redemption through Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
ii) The government will be upon his shoulder - when kings took the throne, their "proof of office" or ensign of office was worn on the shoulder of the king. This is the opposite of verse 4 if we look back where Isaiah speaks of the impossible being made possible. Notice: you have broken the yoke that was on his shoulder. God breaks the yoke on their shoulder and the government is placed on the shoulder of the Messiah.
iii) He shall be called: When a king was taking the throne, the people gave him 5 names according to their qualities and accomplishments. Often, their name could be read as a sentence. The Child is born and given, and his name will be called:
(1) Wonderful
(2) Counselor
(3) Mighty God - mighty warrior
(4) Everlasting Father - he is both a child/the son as well as the father which is interesting and points partially toward evidence of the Trinity. While earthly kings reign only for a while, this King will reign forever.
(5) Prince of Peace - he is and will be our peace.
iv) There will never be an end to his reign and his peace.
4) Why should we rejoice? (RECAP)
a) He makes the impossible possible and we should always remember those instances
b) He brings hope of a day of peace (in this lifetime and the next)
c) He has given His Son
May God bless all of us this Christmas season and may we forever remember to rejoice because of his miracles, promise of peace, and the birth and sending of His Son: Jesus Christ.
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